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Gemini for Android is here! This new app makes it easier to access Google's chatbot, powered by the Gemini Pro LLM, right from your Android device. You can ask Gemini a question by tapping the launcher icon or long-pressing the power button. Once invoked, the Gemini overlay lets you enter a text or text+image prompt. You can tap the camera icon to snap a photo or press the "add this screen" button to take a screenshot of the current page to include in your prompt.
The Gemini app for Android is available on Google Play with support for English, but support for Korean and Japanese will be coming next week. While there won't be an app for iOS, iPhone users can access Gemini by opening the Google App and tapping the "Gemini" button up top.
How can you long-press the power button to invoke Gemini if that gesture is handled by Google Assistant? The answer is that the Gemini Android app can replace Google Assistant as your default assistant if you want, meaning all the ways you'd normally invoke Google Assistant on your phone can instead invoke Gemini. Unfortunately, Gemini currently doesn't offer ALL the same functionality as Google Assistant and requires an active data connection, but more features will be added over time.
There's also now a Gemini Advanced tier, which offers access to Google's most powerful Ultra 1.0 LLM. Access to Gemini Advanced requires a subnoscription to the new $20/month "AI Premium" Google One plan, which offers the same benefits as the 2TB plan but adds access to Gemini Advanced and soon Gemini features in Gmail, Docs, & other Workspace apps (formerly under the Duet AI umbrella). Gemini Advanced is available in English on the web.
The Gemini app for Android is available on Google Play with support for English, but support for Korean and Japanese will be coming next week. While there won't be an app for iOS, iPhone users can access Gemini by opening the Google App and tapping the "Gemini" button up top.
How can you long-press the power button to invoke Gemini if that gesture is handled by Google Assistant? The answer is that the Gemini Android app can replace Google Assistant as your default assistant if you want, meaning all the ways you'd normally invoke Google Assistant on your phone can instead invoke Gemini. Unfortunately, Gemini currently doesn't offer ALL the same functionality as Google Assistant and requires an active data connection, but more features will be added over time.
There's also now a Gemini Advanced tier, which offers access to Google's most powerful Ultra 1.0 LLM. Access to Gemini Advanced requires a subnoscription to the new $20/month "AI Premium" Google One plan, which offers the same benefits as the 2TB plan but adds access to Gemini Advanced and soon Gemini features in Gmail, Docs, & other Workspace apps (formerly under the Duet AI umbrella). Gemini Advanced is available in English on the web.
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com.google.android.apps.bard_1.0.603736800.apk
2.6 MB
Here's the Play Store link for Google Gemini, and attached to this post is the APK. The Gemini app isn't really standalone; it just acts as a shortcut to the Gemini entrypoint in the Google App, much like the Assistant and Lens "apps" on Google Play.
Note that Gemini is only available in English right now.
Note that Gemini is only available in English right now.
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Here's a quick demo of Google Gemini on Android! Let me know how Gemini fares with your queries.
This is just a simple query, but there are "Extensions" you can enable that let you pull data from Google Flights, Google Hotels, Google Maps, Workspace, and YouTube.
Also, I didn't show it in the video, but Gemini can also be invoked by saying "Hey Google" or long-pressing the power button, as it replaces Google Assistant as the default Android assistant service.
This is just a simple query, but there are "Extensions" you can enable that let you pull data from Google Flights, Google Hotels, Google Maps, Workspace, and YouTube.
Also, I didn't show it in the video, but Gemini can also be invoked by saying "Hey Google" or long-pressing the power button, as it replaces Google Assistant as the default Android assistant service.
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Google Gemini supports some existing Google Assistant features, like controlling your Home devices, setting alarms, and more.
Not every feature is supported, though, so you can switch back to Google Assistant in Gemini's settings if needed.
Two quick things I noticed:
1) Continued conversation isn't enabled, so you have to manually enter your next query after Gemini responds to your first one.
2) If you invoke Gemini with "Hey Google", you don't have to hit enter. If you invoke through another method, you do.
Not every feature is supported, though, so you can switch back to Google Assistant in Gemini's settings if needed.
Two quick things I noticed:
1) Continued conversation isn't enabled, so you have to manually enter your next query after Gemini responds to your first one.
2) If you invoke Gemini with "Hey Google", you don't have to hit enter. If you invoke through another method, you do.
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Wondering what new Android features you'll get in the next Pixel Feature Drop?
I wrote a roundup over on Android Central of every feature you can expect to get.
Some of these Android features will be coming to other devices in Android 15, while the remaining are Pixel-exclusive.
I wrote a roundup over on Android Central of every feature you can expect to get.
Some of these Android features will be coming to other devices in Android 15, while the remaining are Pixel-exclusive.
Android Central
Here's every Android feature we expect in Google's next Pixel Feature Drop
Google might not tell you about these new Android features, so we’re here to help
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If you're on Android 14 and you install an app via Google Play and then later try to sideload an update to it from another source, you may see a dialog that warns you that by updating from a different source, "app functionality may change."
This is because Google Play is using Android 14's new update ownership API that I previously reported on. When I first reported on this change back in July, Google Play was only claiming update ownership over core Google apps like Play Services. However, a few weeks ago, some AndroidPolice readers noticed this dialog appearing when sideloading third-party apps, and I just saw this today myself.
Here's Google's statement to AP regarding the change:
This is because Google Play is using Android 14's new update ownership API that I previously reported on. When I first reported on this change back in July, Google Play was only claiming update ownership over core Google apps like Play Services. However, a few weeks ago, some AndroidPolice readers noticed this dialog appearing when sideloading third-party apps, and I just saw this today myself.
Here's Google's statement to AP regarding the change:
We introduced several new APIs in Android 14 that allow app stores, including third-party stores, to improve their user experience.When you install an app from a store, you typically expect to receive automatic updates for the app from that same store. With Android 14, if a store claims responsibility for future updates for the apps you install through it, then Android ensures that you won't unexpectedly receive updates for these apps from a different store. You can still allow your apps to be updated from other sources if desired, including via sideloading, through the new confirmation dialog. As stores, including Google Play, adopt the Android 14 change, users who subsequently update apps from different sources may notice this message.
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If you install FOSS apps from F-Droid, upgrade to version 1.19.0 because it finally adds support for Android's unattended updates API introduced in Android 12. This means F-Droid can update apps in the background (so long as you first installed those apps through F-Droid).
The update also adds Themed Icon support, which is nice. Here's F-Droid's blog post on the release.
The update also adds Themed Icon support, which is nice. Here's F-Droid's blog post on the release.
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
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That was fast: Google pushed an update to Gemini for Android last night that enabled auto sending queries when you invoke it via a swipe up gesture or long press of the power button.
Previously queries only auto sent if you invoked Gemini via "Hey Google."
Hopefully continued conversation is added next!
Previously queries only auto sent if you invoked Gemini via "Hey Google."
Hopefully continued conversation is added next!
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Device Streaming in Android Studio is now in Open Alpha! This means you can access the service without registering for the Early Access Program - just download the latest version of Android Studio Jellyfish and link a Firebase project.
Device Streaming lets you test apps on real Android devices from a variety of OEMs located remotely in a Google data center, all through Android Studio. The service is free to use during the alpha period.
Device Streaming lets you test apps on real Android devices from a variety of OEMs located remotely in a Google data center, all through Android Studio. The service is free to use during the alpha period.
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Android's Photo Picker is finally getting Google Photos integration! This lets you share images or videos from your Google Photos libraries with apps that invoke the system Photo Picker.
This is rolling out with the February 2024 Google System Update and is available on Android 12+ (ie. the GMS backported Photo Picker doesn't support cloud content).
Other apps can integrate with the Photo Picker by utilizing Android's CloudMediaProvider API. However, the Photo Picker currently utilizes an allowlist, and only apps "nominated by OEMs" are currently eligible to participate in the "pilot program" that allows them to become a cloud media provider.
[1] My post from December showing off this feature
[2] Google's blog post announcing the rollout
[3] Developer docs for creating a cloud media provider.
This is rolling out with the February 2024 Google System Update and is available on Android 12+ (ie. the GMS backported Photo Picker doesn't support cloud content).
Other apps can integrate with the Photo Picker by utilizing Android's CloudMediaProvider API. However, the Photo Picker currently utilizes an allowlist, and only apps "nominated by OEMs" are currently eligible to participate in the "pilot program" that allows them to become a cloud media provider.
[1] My post from December showing off this feature
[2] Google's blog post announcing the rollout
[3] Developer docs for creating a cloud media provider.
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Google is rolling out a new "Android Safe Browsing" page to users that lets you see which apps support the feature as well as a toggle "live threat protection" which enables "more accurate threat detection."
Android Safe Browsing "alerts you to security threats, like harmful links and webpages, when you browse within supported apps. For example, you might get an alert if you tap a link in your news app that would take you to a known phishing site."
This Safe Browsing page likely lists which apps utilize the SafetyNet Safe Browsing API, a library that's part of Google Play Services that lets apps determine whether a particular URL has been marked as a known threat by Google.
This page can be found under Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy on Pixel devices and Settings > Security & Privacy on Samsung Galaxy devices.
(Thanks to AlessandroDiCristina on Telegram for the screenshot and to multiple others for the tip!)
Android Safe Browsing "alerts you to security threats, like harmful links and webpages, when you browse within supported apps. For example, you might get an alert if you tap a link in your news app that would take you to a known phishing site."
This Safe Browsing page likely lists which apps utilize the SafetyNet Safe Browsing API, a library that's part of Google Play Services that lets apps determine whether a particular URL has been marked as a known threat by Google.
This page can be found under Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy on Pixel devices and Settings > Security & Privacy on Samsung Galaxy devices.
(Thanks to AlessandroDiCristina on Telegram for the screenshot and to multiple others for the tip!)
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Android 15 DP1 is coming on Thursday, according to a Googler (H/T 9to5Google).
If you want to know what's coming in Android 15, check out the posts I've done for Android Authority and Android Police or my threads on what's new in the Android 14 QPR betas.
One of the features I'm most excited for is Private Space, which will basically be Android's native version of Samsung's Secure Folder feature. I fully enabled this feature to show it off in this article.
If you want to know what's coming in Android 15, check out the posts I've done for Android Authority and Android Police or my threads on what's new in the Android 14 QPR betas.
One of the features I'm most excited for is Private Space, which will basically be Android's native version of Samsung's Secure Folder feature. I fully enabled this feature to show it off in this article.
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Android 15 should be adding a "Security State" API (
I'd imagine this will be useful for enterprise/device management use cases.
android.os.SecurityStateManager) that will provide an easy way to query the security patch level of the Android OS, the vendor components, the Linux kernel version, the WebView version, and potentially more.I'd imagine this will be useful for enterprise/device management use cases.
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The latest beta update for Nova Launcher adds support for launching Google's new Gemini assistant from the search bar.
If you're a launcher/app developer curious about the best way to do this, it seems that invoking the
However, one caveat is that other assistants might not handle
Credits to Rob (Nova Launcher developer) for digging into the right intent to use.
If you're a launcher/app developer curious about the best way to do this, it seems that invoking the
ACTION_VOICE_COMMAND is the way to go. This intent invokes Google Assistant or Gemini depending on which one is enabled. Other intents like ACTION_ASSIST or ACTION_VOICE_ASSIST launch the Google App or Google's voice search when invoked.However, one caveat is that other assistants might not handle
ACTION_VOICE_COMMAND. The Google App would then complain that it's not set as the default assistant service. In that case, it might be good to query the default assistant (Settings.Secure.getString(contentResolver, "assistant")) before invoking ACTION_VOICE_COMMAND to ensure the Google App is set as the default.Credits to Rob (Nova Launcher developer) for digging into the right intent to use.
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LineageOS 21 is here! It's based on Android 14 QPR1 and brings major improvements to several Lineage apps. The Aperture camera app is getting new video features added in newer CameraX API releases, while apps like Jelly, Dialer, Contacts, Messaging, LatinIME, and Calculator are getting full Material You redesigns. There's also a brand new gallery app!
Here's a highlight of some of the new features:
* Glimpse: Replaces Gallery2 starting from LineageOS 21.
* Aperture: HDR video recording, configurable volume button gestures, UI rotation support, improved QR scanner, support for Assistant voice actions, and lots more
* Jelly: Added Brave as a search engine and suggestions provider, added per-website location permissions
* Material You: Aperture, Calculator, Contacts, Dialer, Eleven, Jelly, LatinIME, and Messaging have received varying degrees of design changes.
* The side pop-out expanding volume panel has been improved.
* The Lineage Updater app now installs A/B updates much faster thanks to improvements Google made.
* A global Quick Settings light mode has been added.
(Read the full blog post on the LineageOS website for all the details!)
The Lineage team has made several improvements to streamline updates, including overhauling their merge noscripts to simplify merging monthly Android security patches, updating their extract utilities to extract files from OTA/factory images directly when possible, creating SoC-specific common kernels for several Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, and commonizing shims/compatibility layers.
LineageOS 21 builds are available for >100 models from several brands, like Google, LG, Motorola, OnePlus, Samsung, and Xiaomi. While 19.1 builds are being retired, 18.1 builds will still be made, as otherwise support for many legacy devices would have to be dropped. Meanwhile, >70 new models were added to the LOS 20 build roster. If you want to try LineageOS for your device, head over to the project's website and THOROUGHLY read the wiki page for your specific model before installing anything!
Here's a highlight of some of the new features:
* Glimpse: Replaces Gallery2 starting from LineageOS 21.
* Aperture: HDR video recording, configurable volume button gestures, UI rotation support, improved QR scanner, support for Assistant voice actions, and lots more
* Jelly: Added Brave as a search engine and suggestions provider, added per-website location permissions
* Material You: Aperture, Calculator, Contacts, Dialer, Eleven, Jelly, LatinIME, and Messaging have received varying degrees of design changes.
* The side pop-out expanding volume panel has been improved.
* The Lineage Updater app now installs A/B updates much faster thanks to improvements Google made.
* A global Quick Settings light mode has been added.
(Read the full blog post on the LineageOS website for all the details!)
The Lineage team has made several improvements to streamline updates, including overhauling their merge noscripts to simplify merging monthly Android security patches, updating their extract utilities to extract files from OTA/factory images directly when possible, creating SoC-specific common kernels for several Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, and commonizing shims/compatibility layers.
LineageOS 21 builds are available for >100 models from several brands, like Google, LG, Motorola, OnePlus, Samsung, and Xiaomi. While 19.1 builds are being retired, 18.1 builds will still be made, as otherwise support for many legacy devices would have to be dropped. Meanwhile, >70 new models were added to the LOS 20 build roster. If you want to try LineageOS for your device, head over to the project's website and THOROUGHLY read the wiki page for your specific model before installing anything!
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